UConn women get easy win over Idaho 105-37

Updated 12:49 am, Sunday, March 24, 2013

The UConn women's basketball team was looking for a strong start to the NCAA tournament. It found what it was looking for in the first round Saturday against 16th-seeded Idaho in Storrs.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored all of her game-high 22 points in the first half and added six rebounds and three steals to lead the top-seeded Huskies to a 105-37 win before 4,627 at Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies had a 29-0 run at one point as the Vandals went scoreless for 11:31.

Freshman Breanna Stewart did not play for UConn due to a left calf injury. It is not considered to be serious.

The Huskies (30-4) have won 20 straight NCAA opening-round games, the longest active streak in the nation. They will meet eighth-seeded Vanderbilt (21-11) in the second round Monday at Gampel Pavilion (7, ESPN2).

The Commodores defeated ninth-seeded Saint Joseph's 60-54 Saturday.

The Huskies set an NCAA record by winning 30 games for the eighth straight season. They are a combined 277-22 (.926) in this span and have now won at least 30 games in 18 of the last 20 seasons.

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Image 1of/8

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 8

Idaho's Stacey Barr, left, is fouled by Connecticut's Bria Hartley, right, in the first half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013. Connecticut won 105-37. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Idaho's Stacey Barr, left, is fouled by Connecticut's Bria Hartley, right, in the first half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013. ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Image 2 of 8

Idaho's Ali Forde, left, and Connecticut's Kiah Stokes fight for a rebound in the first half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Idaho's Ali Forde, left, and Connecticut's Kiah Stokes fight for a rebound in the first half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013.

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, second from left speaks with players Kelly Faris, left, Bria Hartley, second from right, and Caroline Doty, right, during the second half of a first-round game against Idaho in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013. Connecticut won 105-37. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, second from left speaks with players Kelly Faris, left, Bria Hartley, second from right, and Caroline Doty, right, during the second half of a first-round game against

Connecticut's Morgan Tuck, left, goes up for a basket while guarded by Idaho's Ali Forde, right, during the first half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013. Connecticut won 105-37. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Connecticut's Morgan Tuck, left, goes up for a basket while guarded by Idaho's Ali Forde, right, during the first half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Image 5 of 8

Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, right, pulls down a rebound against Idaho's Connie Ballestero, left, as Connecticut's Kelly Faris (34) defends in the second half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013. Connecticut won 105-37. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, right, pulls down a rebound against Idaho's Connie Ballestero, left, as Connecticut's Kelly Faris (34) defends in the second half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Image 6 of 8

Connecticut's Moriah Jefferson, center, smiles as associate head coach Chris Dailey, right, speaks to her, and teammate Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, left, sits near in the second half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament against Idaho in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013. Jefferson scored 16 points as Connecticut won 105-37. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Connecticut's Moriah Jefferson, center, smiles as associate head coach Chris Dailey, right, speaks to her, and teammate Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, left, sits near in the second half of a first-round game in the ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Image 7 of 8

Connecticut's Moriah Jefferson, right, steals the ball from Idaho's Ali Forde, left, in the second half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March 23, 2013. Connecticut won 105-37. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Connecticut's Moriah Jefferson, right, steals the ball from Idaho's Ali Forde, left, in the second half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Storrs, Conn., Saturday, March ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Image 8 of 8

UConn women get easy win over Idaho 105-37

1 / 8

Back to Gallery

UConn finished 29-5 in 1998-99 and 25-8 and 2004-05. Duke is the only other program to have recorded at least 30 wins in seven straight seasons, from 2001-07.

STAR OF THE GAME: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. She finished with a game-high 22 points (9-of-13 FG) and has now scored at least 20 points in a career-high 10 games this season.

KEY TO THE WIN: The Huskies opened the game with a 15-0 run over the first 5:20. Idaho missed its first five shots and committed seven turnovers in this span. ... Idaho had 10 turnovers in the first 6:49. ... The Huskies opened the second half with an 18-0 run as Idaho went scoreless for 7:29. ... The Huskies scored 31 points off of 21 turnovers by Idaho.

WORTH NOTING: The Huskies have not lost back-to-back games in a span of 727 games. They are 672-55 in this span. ... The Huskies are 42-4 in NCAA tournament games played in Connecticut, winning 40 of the last 41 overall. ... UConn coach Geno Auriemma turned 59 Saturday. The Huskies improved to 8-1 on his birthday. Their only loss was to N.C. State 60-52 in the 1998 East regional final in Dayton, Ohio. ... With 106 3-pointers this season, Mosqueda-Lewis needs two to set the team single-season record. Wendy Davis made 107 in 1991-92.